Former Yesh Atid MK Ron Katz Resigns, Replaced by Arab Party Leader Mohammad Shoko Abu Elheiga

Ron Katz, a member of the Knesset from the Yesh Atid party, announced his resignation from parliamentary life on Sunday. Katz, who has served for 15 years in public roles including as deputy mayor of Petah Tikva and a member of the Knesset's Economics and Interior Committee, stated in his resignation letter to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana that he wished to take a break from public life and start a new chapter. He emphasized his immediate resignation to avoid receiving public salary after deciding to leave and called for continued efforts toward national unity, quoting a biblical verse about brotherhood.

Katz’s departure opens his Knesset seat to Mohammad Shoko Abu Elheiga, who is expected to join the Yesh Atid faction. Abu Elheiga is the founder of the youth movement Atidna, head of the non-formal education department in Tamra municipality, and currently leads the party’s Arab sector. His entry marks a significant milestone as he will become the first Arab MK representing Yesh Atid, bringing extensive experience in public, educational, and social work.

Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid expressed gratitude to Katz for his years of service and welcomed Abu Elheiga’s upcoming role. Katz’s resignation is part of a series of high-profile departures from Yesh Atid amid political shifts and polling changes, including Boaz Toporovsky, Yaron Levy, and Idan Roll. This transition highlights the party’s integration of prominent Arab leadership into its parliamentary opposition framework ahead of the 2026 elections.